Use of model studies for safe and economical design of hydraulic structures

Abstract

Development of water resources plays a very important role in the overall development of any country. Besides this, proper management and utilisation of water resources also help in flood control, water supply for drinking, industry, thermal and nuclear power plants, irrigation, hydro power generation, etc. For the development and management of water resources, the design / construction of various hydraulic structures and installation of related machines are an important task. Theoretical and empirical methods of analysis and calculations do not

provide adequate solution to various hydraulic problems due to complexity of boundary, fluid and flow characteristics. The engineers involved in the design of hydraulic structures are always keen to know the performance of such structures after its construction and commissioning of the project. Therefore, there is no-option except to study the hydraulic phenomenon on a physical model. The validity of model predictions

greatly depend upon the judicious simulation of the parameters, affecting the flow besides boundary characteristics. The studies of different parameters such as velocity distribution, pressure, behaviour of flow, efficacy of design of hydraulic structures / machines have been mainly carried out in the model studies to allow flow of water through a model constructed at a smaller / bigger size than that of prototype. Hydraulic

model studies are conducted mainly on the basis of Froude's law of similarity, Reynold's law of similarity, etc. by physical, electronic/electrical and mathematical / numerical modeling. A number of model studies have been carried out at Hydraulic Research Station, Bahadarabad of IRI Roorkee, a brief account of some important studies has been presented in the article besides description of its basic principle and concept of the method of the model studies.